SWNOVELS Chapter 5: The Trio
Gabriel’s POV
The city was certainly scarier at ground level. Every shadow moved, every sound was a foot away, and every damn window had eyes peering out from it. He hadn’t walked this path in years since Angel Blades were discovered in town, and those things were the only weapons that gave permanent damage for demons and angels alike. Castiel had mandated that his Church fly to their posts daily, and risk only the arrows of the Syndicate when they were in a bad mood.
The cold night air gusted and he glanced to the shivering form beside him. She was definitely going to freeze in that dress if they didn’t hustle. There was another 15 minute walk to go, and he had nothing in the way of warmth to offer her. Damn. At least she wasn’t trying to hold her bladder anymore. He had kept watch by a dumpster while she had relieved herself, and comically it had increased their walking speed after. He glanced down her dark outline, smiling as the white tip of what looked to be a short fluffy tail peeked from under the dress. It was an unusual tail. Nekos had skinny licorice sticks, but hers appeared to be a fluff monster. Interesting.
A sound ahead like boot scuffs made them both stop, and for Gabriel to press his hand on her shoulder. He narrowed eyes in the dark and saw moving masses from the shadows stalk to the middle of the street. The trio of moron lycans from the bar. Shit.
“Good evening Mr. Light-dick.”
In better circumstances, he would have appreciated the lame name play. “A’ight Marco, your issue is with me takin’ your chew toys away today, and I’d be pleased as punch to discuss it tomorrow. Just let me pass through tonight and get this girl somewhere warm to sleep.”
One of the goons spoke from the back, his name rhyming with Fluke or Nuke or something. “You’s a long way from the Yard little cat.”
Gabriel felt her whole body tense and shake under his palm, and he couldn’t help but pet her shoulder softly to try and reassure. “Yeah, she, she’s wanted at the Church so she’s in my protection tonight under official Church direction.” He knew the lie wasn’t convincing, nor his tone but he also knew a neko alone was a quick kill.
“Mmm, she must be a good ride or have some juicy gossip King Cas needs to hear then.” Marco growled a low sound as he turned to the group. “Well boys, shall we find out which one it is?”
Gabriel slowly gripped the hilt of his belt knife with one hand and readied Angel by pushing her behind him with the other. Shit shit shit!
A flash later the group descended on Gabriel, who had lunged forward to intercept the attack. Sounds surrounded of snarls, growls, Angel’s scream.. fuck! He lost track of where she was from the flying fists at his head, and the taunting laughter filled his ears as bloodlust took hold of the wolves. They wanted a kill. His knife made contact with bodies repeatedly, but with their fast healing it wouldn’t be enough to lay them out for any length of time.
In the night light, something long glinted in a tattooed hand. A strong arm gripped him in a chokehold and his own dagger hand was suspended in the air against a lycan’s superhuman strength. Fuck fuck fuck! Frantic to regain control, Gabriel drew on his limited etherial strength and exploded to the sky with white wings knocking a man to the ground and forcing the one with a shining silver knife to stagger backwards. He caught sight of Angel on her stomach below, flailing under the weight of a shirtless mass. He dove and power kicked the man off her, who rolled along the street from the force.
Knowing his energy reserves were nearly depleted, he stood with knife outstretched in front of him and wings spread to their full size protectively in front of Angel. The furious trio moved as one and launched at Gabe, sending him crashing back hard into a wall. Searing pain pierced his shoulder, then his shoulder blade near his wing while his own knife was knocked and clattered to the ground. His sudden realization of the knife shape came too late, and as the Angel Blade dagger was lifted again an exhausted Gabe gave the last of his energy in struggle. This was it. He mumbled aloud, “Lord, accept me home.” as the blade descended into his left chest.
In another flurry of movement Gabriel saw multiple sets of large wings and then a sword. He heard angry shouts and pained whimpers. He closed his eyes and crumpled to the ground as hands dropped him, and despite willing himself to stay present, Gabe slipped into darkness.